Ribbon cleaner for embossing machines



June 17 1924. 1,498,076

E. DE GAY RIBBON CLEANER FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed July v, 1923 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 in W 1 lnuentor June 17, 1924. 1,498,076

E. DE GAY RIBBON CLEANER FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed July 7, 1923 v s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1924.

NETE STATES PATENT cl rics;

ERNEST DE GAY, 0F LIVINGSTON HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO MODEM AND PLATE Panes MFG.

ILLINOIS.

00 OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS, A GO'RPORATION OF meson cnnniinn ron niiiizossrne aonrnns.

Application filed my 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Ennnsr DE GAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Livingston Heights, in the county of A- lington and State of Virginia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Ribbon Cleaner for Embossing Machines, of which the following is speci fication.

My invention relates primarily to embossing presses and mo e particularly to an attachment for embossing machines for cleaning the ribbon employed in em aossing processes in removing excess ink from the face of a die. I y

One of the objects of my inventionis to provide a construction of ribbon cleaner which may be mounted uponzany construetion of embossing machine and interposed between the usual take-up reel on the press and the point where the ribbon is employed to clean the face of the die. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon washing attacl'iment for em bossing machines with means for conveniently and quickly threading the ribbon through the washing attachment and effectively removing ink from the ribbon dur ing the impression operations of the embosser.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ribbon washing attachment for em bossing presses constructed and arranged to remove excess ink from a wiping ribbon and directly return the ink to the main ink fountain of the embosser to be reused in the embossing process.

A still further object of my invention is. to provide a washing attachment: for the ribbon of an embossing machine with a. supporting frame carrying a plurality of ink scraping devices or knives and ribbon moistening devices with a hinged frame adjacent the supporting frame having a plu rality of ribbon guide means for confining the path of movement of said ribbon immediately adjacent said ink scraping and ribbon moistening devices. l i

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of removable pan on a ribbon washing attachme'ntfor embossing machines which may be quickly inserted or withdrawn from the frame of the attach- 1923. semi No. 650,135.

ment for supplying the washing fluid to the ribbon 'mo stening devices carried by the attachment in be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' vide a construction of ribbon washing attachment for embossing machines in which the passage of the ribbon through the washer is controlled by the tension take-up force imparted to the ribbon by the storage take-up ribbon roller on the press drawing the ribbon through the attachment and sub;

jecting the same to ink removing processes.

Other and further ob ects of my invention will be understood from the following the accompress or embossing machine with my ribi bon cleaning attachment mounted on the machine; Fig; 2 is afragmentary view showing the tensiontake-up roller on'the power press which draws the ribbon through the Washing attachmentyFig. 3 is a side junta-position to the ribbon to elevation of my ribbon washing attachment T mounted upon the rear of the die table railings of the embossing machine illustrating the arrangement of the mechanism by which excess ink is removed from the ribbon and returned to the main ink fountain ready for reuse in the embossing process; Fig. 4c is 'a viewfflof the upper portion of'the ribbon washing attachment showing the hinged.

frame which carries the pressure guide roll-i ers opened upwardly or raised to a vertical 1 position to permit the ribbon to'be threaded through the washer; Fig. 5 1s a plan View of the ribbon washing attachment mounted with relation to the power press; Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of my washing attachment taken on line 66 of Fig.3; and Fig/Wis a front View of the hinged frame which carries the pressure guide and washing rollers.

The present embodimentof my invention has been found to be very practical in con struction and successful inoperation. The.

invention contemplates mounting a ribbon table railings of the embossing press and rollers serving to force the ribbon against the ink removing knives and the moistening passing the Wiping ribbon immediately after it has been employed in cleaning the The side; platesiof the supporting frame;

are laterally; extended, at their extremities and provide journals for tl' pllllilllgtyz of ink: scrapers, a Washing roller, and a l'lb bmh moisten-dug or guide roller. At the upper extremity, in one corner of the side plate members, I-pi'vot a hinged frame carrying. aplurality of pressure-"guiderollers. "The ribbon fromthe embossingmachine is.

passediover the scraping knives carried by thesupporting frame and passed between a pairof-therollers carried by said hinged frame adjacent thepivotal mounting While thehinged frame: is opened up away: from the scraping knives, hen the hinged.

frame is loWered-in-position and locked in closed relation to thewsuppo-rting frame the guide pressure" rollers press the ribbon firmly against thezink scraping -knives,- the moistening. roller and the Washing roller. The; ribbon is-drawn under tension through the attachment;bythetension take-up roller on thezpress; which rotates intermittently; in

timed-relation: to the movement of the die inking rollerj and'successively' as the emboss ing process continues; The; attachmentis so located on the; embossing press that as the inlcisrreinoved from the ribbon itdrops by gravity action directlyinto thermain ink fountain of the press ready for reuse in the embossing process; A5 fl uid b ath 1 is provided for the washingiroller: and the' moistening device? carried by the supporting frame; The

bath may comprise many. different-fluids o as The; pan containing thiebath'may betquickly inserted adjacentth'eupper part of the sup portingrframe.im-

hereinafter set forth.

mersing'. a portion of the Washing roller. Themountm'gtofthe pan is suchth at it maybe quickly Withdrawn fronrth'e frame.

My invention will now-be describedlin more detail byreference toth'e accompany;-

ingadrawings inwhich numeral 1 indicates the die table railings of'any desired construction of powerdie stampingipress. 1 Only suflicient mechanism of the press has'been illustrated to clearly set forth: theapplica tion- OfKIIlY invention. The main inkfonntain' hasibeen ind icated at 2mounted above thewwaste pan 3-.= The inklrollers of the die inking mechanism aredriven through the gear-train G, 7 '"and 'Sin"m'esh' with sprocket 1 Wheel 9 Which is continuously driven when the press is in operation through chain 10. An inking roller 11 carried by movable frame 12 operates to apply ink to the die successively during the embossing process. The Wiping ribbon which is used to remove the excess ink from the face of" the die immediately after each inking operation is indicated at 14. Thisribbon is usually paper and is normally immediately stored on a takearp rolleri after the embossing process and then the paper discarded as unfit for use. lVhen a fresh roll-of paper-must be purchased sto replace the-usedroll, theexpense of operation becomes a considerable item. l/Vith my .lILVDillOlllTlleP313181 maybe used ainumber of times therebyire f duc-ing thecost of ribbon renewals.

My attachment is secured to the rear: of f' thedie table railings- 1 by means o-fia-casting 15 which fits between the rails as indicated at 16. The-:side'pla-te member-s17 and 18' are securedtatoppositesidesof casting:

lo -and'extend vertically in the rearofthe' power press:substantially. perpendicular: to the table ofth'e press; The side member-s11? and 18 are laterally extended at their CX- tremityforming a supporting frame forthe main ink-removing;scraper19, theink and Washing; fluid "removing scraper 20 and, the

finishing scraper 2.1. The several scrapers are all adjustably mounted in thetfraine-xby knife holders 22; 23 and2l respectively so that the angular positioirof th i scrapers with" referenc'eto thevribbonx may be. selected to secure the best results. The supporting frame also carries journals I for s the main ribbon Washing roller 25 and the rib boa molstemng' or guide roller 26.

pan- 27 'WlflCll'iS: quickly insertedor withdrawn from the supporting frame by a hori-H zontal movement which automatically drops the Washing roller 25. One method by I The fluid batlr 1s containedln the removable Which I accomplish this is by provi'din A.

pins28 on the outsidewalls of-the pan 2i which travel in the guides which may be form'edwhenathe plates 17 and l8r are cast; Fluid from the pan. 27-n1ay be con veyed to the surface of the moistening roller 26-by capillary attraction by means of the absorbing Wick: 30 arranged so that the lower surface of i roller 26 always contacts- With the Wick and isvthereby' moistenedienablingithe'rollerLtoserveas a guide for the:

paper 'l4c'without adhering or sticking to the paper as Ihave found thatit hasa tend ency to do immediately after the removal ofzthe'; majoi portion of the-ink from the paper byscraper19a Theramount of Wash-- ing. fluidbn -WaShingr roller '251may be regu- D 9 Dr).

through the pressure guide rollers which are carried by the paper adjusting frame 32 At the front of the frame 32 I provide bushings 34: and 35 which are slidable on rodmember 36 to properly align the paper for passage through the washing attachment. A roller 37 is carried by theframe 32 guiding the paper 14 against the knife 19. The major portion of the ink is removed by this operation. My wash ng attachment IS'SO located with respect to the embossing machine that the ink drops by gravity, as represented at 38, into the main ink fountain 2 at 39 ready for reuse in the embossing process. A. roller 40 .is provided to force the ribbon against the main washing roller 25. Roller 41 is arranged to serve both as a means for forcing the ribbon against the Washing roller 25 andalso to form a bearing surfacecooperating with the scraperQO to remove the plastic film of ink which has become dissolved in the fluid. Rollers 42, {i3 and 44 function to guide the ribbon in position against knife 21 which thoroughly cleans the ribbon of any undesired coating which may be still contained thereon. Roller 45 serves to guide the paper to the tension take-up roller 46. This roller is operated intermittently through chain 47 and gear mechanism 48 to wind up the ribbon as it is used during the embossing process after the ribbon has been cleansed of the ink.

The washing fluid may be of various kinds for example alcohol may be used or gasoline employed. Benzine may be used in the bath or ordinary coal oil may be employed. I have observed that coal oil has a tendency to strengthen the fibers of the paper while beiiziiie evaporates quickly and tends to weaken the paper.

While I have described my invention in a certain particular embodiment it is to be understoodthat various modifications may be made in the details of construction and that I intend no limitations upon my invention other than are imposed by the scope of the appended claims. f

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An attachment for embossing machines comprising a pair of side members forming a supporting frame, a plurality of angularly naled in said side members, a removable pan carried by said frame for supplying a cleansing fluid to said roller, a hinged frame pivoted to said supporting frame and arranged to be opened or closed with reference adjustable knives carried at the extremity of 7 said frame, a ribbon washing roller ourto said supporting frame and means carried by said hinged frame for pressing a movable ribbon against said knives and said washing roller for removing coatings of ink therefrom.

tion with theframe of an embossing ma 2. A ribbon cleaning attachment for em bossing machines compris ng ingcombinachine having a wiping ribbon, an attachable frame,,ink scraping and washing means carried by said frame, a hinged frame positioned on said first inentionedframe and having. means for threading the ribbon through said frame and guiding said'ribbon under pressure against said scraping andwashing means.

3. A ribbon cleaning attachment for embossing machinescoiiiprising in combination with the frame of'an embossing machine having a wiping ribbon, an attachable frame, ink scraping and Washing means carried by said frame, a fluid bath carried at the extremity of said frame for partiaily immersing said washing means in said fluid bath, a hinged frame positioned on said first mentioned frame and having means for threadin the ribbon through said frame and guiding said ribbon under, pressure againstsaid scraping and washing means.

"4. A ribbon cleaning attachment for embossiiig machines comprising in combination with the frame of an embossing machine having a wiping ribbon, an attachable frame, inkscraping and washing means can ried by said'frame, said means consisting of a lurality of different knives arranged at di erent levels and a plurality of moisten-- ing'and washing rollers arranged at dif ferent levels, a hinged frame positioned on.

said first mentioned frame and having means for threading the ribbon through said frame and guiding said ribbon under pressure against said scraping and Washing means.

'5. A ribbon cleaning attachment for embossing machines comprising in combination with the frame of an embossing machine having a wiping ribbon, an attachable frame, ink scraping and washing means carried by said frame, a hingedjframe positioned on said first mentioned frame and substantially extendedthereover, a plurality of pressure guide rollers for said ribbon carried on the upper and lower sides of said hinged frame whereby said hinged frame I may be raised with relation to said first mentioned frame and said ribbon threaded through said rollers and said hinged frame closed against said first mentioned frame forcing-said ribbon against said scraping and washingmeans.

6 A ribbon cleaning attachment for embossingmachines comprisingin com-bination 'Withthe frame 'of an -6111b0SSl11gd11dchine havinga Wiping ribbon, an attachableframe, inlr scraping and Washing means carried by saidframe, said 1 frame comprising side-niembers, guide rails-carried by sa d.

side m'embers'and apan haVingmeans-cm op'erating with saidguide rails-whereby a horizontal and vertical movement may-be imparted tosa-id' pan to immerse-saidWash ing means in a fluid bath contained insaid said in-k scraping and Washing means Wherebyink is removed from said ribbon.

7 A ribbon clean ingattachment for-embossing machines comprising incOlnbil'Ilfk panand means for passing said ribbon over tion-With the frame-of an"embossingina chine having Wiping ribbon, an attachable frame, ink scra Jin and washinmeans car I l a a) a a med by said frame, a hinged frai-ne'posltioned on said first mentioned frame, a

ribbon guide at the extremity (if-said hinged frame, a rol-lerimmediately ad acent said guide on said hinged frame, said roller-being positionedopposite one ofsaid ink scraping means on said attachable frame, a

moistening roller on said attachable-frame behind said soraping means and a plurality of 7 guiderol-lers 1 on said hinged frame for" pressing'said ribbon against said scraping" and waslnng means during the passage of the ribbon through saidattach ment Where-- by a coating of 'ink may be removed fronr said ribbon.

8. A ribbon cleaning attachment for-em:- bossing machines comprising in combina-v tion withhth'e frame of an embossing lna- .oliinehaviirg a Wiping'ribbon, an attach-able frame, separatev ribbon moistening; and Washing rollers-on-saldframe, a hinged frame having means for pressing sald ribbon against said rollers, said moistening rollerbeing' ournald at a-higher elevation than said washing roller and serving to meet particular portion of said ribbon" prior to thetime said portion reaches said Washing f roller whereby coatings onsaid ribbon mayy 'jonrnaled at one corner 'of'said attachable frame said guide frame having a pairof polygonal sidemembers, pressure guide rollers jonrnaled' between said members,

said guide frame having a greater length and shorter width than said attachable frame whereby said gu-ide frame-may be closed upon saids attaohable frame and said ri bon pressed against, said" scraping and. vashing means wherebyinlr inay'berrenroved from said 'ribb'on during -the-passageof"-the mans ons on: 

